Ranunculus plant named ‘ABSALECAMI’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Ranunculus  plant named ‘ABSALECAMI’ is disclosed, characterized by unique lavender-pink and green colored flowers. The corolla is spherical when mature. Plants are highly productive. The new variety is a  Ranunculus , normally produced as a cut flower and potentially useful as an ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Ranunculus asiaticus.

Variety denomination: ‘ABSALECAMI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Ranunculus cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Alberto Biancheri at a research nursery in Camporosso Mare, Italy. The cross resulting in this new variety was made during 2011.

The seed parent is the unpatented, proprietary variety referred to as Ranunculus ‘99-5/4’. The pollen parent is the unpatented, proprietary variety referred to as Ranunculus ‘VLS141’. The new variety was discovered in 2015 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2011 crossing, in a research greenhouse in Camporosso Mare, Italy.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first performed by vegetative division of buds sprouting from the rhizome of the selected plant. Subsequent propagation has been performed by tissue culture. First propagation took place at a research greenhouse in Camporosso Mare, Italy in 2015 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in multiple successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘ABSALECAMI’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘ABSALECAMI’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘ABSALECAMI’ as a new and distinct Ranunculus cultivar:

-   -   1. Unique corolla color combination of pink-lavender and green.     -   2. Spherical shape of the flower when it is fully open.     -   3. High productivity.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABSALECAMI’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘ABSALECAMI’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. Corolla color of the new variety is different than that of         the seed parent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABSALECAMI’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘ABSALECAMI’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. Flower shape or the new variety is spherical, the pollen         parent produces as half-spherical flower.     -   2. Flower color of the new variety is different than that of the         pollen parent.     -   3. Vegetative carriage is the new variety is lower growing than         that of the pollen parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABSALECAMI’ are comparable to the commercial variety Ranunculus ‘ABOGMA’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,046. The two Ranunculus varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘ABSALECAMI’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Flower size of the new variety is 8 to 10 cm wide. Flower         size of ‘ABOGMA’ is on average 9 to 13 cm wide.     -   2. Combination of colors in the corolla is different. The new         variety produces petals of Purple N79A, Yellow-Green 145C, and         Red-Purple 73C. Petals of ‘ABOGMA’ are colored Red-Purple 65A,         65B and Yellow-Green 144A.     -   3. Stamens are present in the new variety, not present in         ‘ABOGMA’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates a close up of plant parts.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a close-up view of an individual flower.

FIG. 3 illustrates flowering plants of the new variety at approximately eight months old, grown in a greenhouse.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 6^(th) edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe 5-month-old ‘ABSALECAMI’ plants grown in a greenhouse in Camporosso Mare, Italy. The plant described has been cultivated in the month of March. In order to protect the crop against pests, some chemical treatments are performed. Treatments with growth regulators can be performed to limit the plant sizes. In particular, no growth regulators have been applied on the plant described. The rhizome has been planted on raised benches in a peat and pumice substrate mixture. The growing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 24° C. during the day and from 0° C. to 6° C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Ranunculus asiaticus ‘ABSALECAMI’. -   Propagation: -   Time to rooting: 15 days at approximately 10-12° C. -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet: 20 days. -   Root description: Tuberous root. -   Plant: -   Growth habit: Herbaceous perennial, robust plant, erect vegetation. -   Height to top flower: Average range 60 to 70 cm. -   Leaf height: Average range 40 to 50 cm. -   Plant spread: Average range 50 to 55 cm. -   Growth rate: Medium. -   Branching characteristics: Main floral stems grow from a basal     rosette with one lateral branch, which has one flower. -   Length of lateral branches: Average range 55 to 60 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: Average range 0.4 to 0.6 cm. -   Texture of lateral branches: Glabrous. -   Internode length: Internodes are extremely close together, forming a     basal rosette. -   Strength of lateral branches: Strong. -   Color of lateral branches: RHS Yellow Green 144A. -   Aspect/angle of branches: 15° to 20°. -   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Usually 2 or 4. -   Foliage: The plant has a marked heterophylly that means that in the     same plant the leaves may have different size and arrangement     (simple, ternate and biternate), in relation to the degree of     development (young leaf and mature leaf) and their position on the     plant (basal leaf — leaf at the base of the plant — and cauline     leaf—leaf inserted at the nodes of the floral stems). In other     words, there are significant variation in leaf shape on a same     plant. -   Leaf at the base of the plant:     -   -   Arrangement.—Young Leaf: Simple or ternate. Mature Leaf:             Biternate.         -   Average length.—20 to 28 cm.         -   Average width.—10 to 15 cm.         -   Overall shape of blade.—Young Leaf: Obovate. Mature Leaf:             Palmatipartite.         -   Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity of             dissection.—Young leaves are generally slightly lobed;             mature leaves are generally divided in 3 lobes, each one of             which further divided.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Attachment.—Base of the plant.         -   Margin.—Young leaf: Crenate. Mature leaf: Dentate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Slightly tomentose.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Slightly tomentose.         -   Appearance of top surface.—Matte.         -   Appearance bottom surface.—Matte.         -   Leaf internode length.—The internodes are extremely close             together, forming a basal rosette.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: RHS Green 137B. Young             foliage under side: RHS Green 138B. Mature foliage upper             side: RHS Green 137C. Mature foliage under side: RHS Green             138B.         -   Venation.—Type: Palmate; plunging into the limb at the upper             surface; raised on the limb at the lower surface. Venation             color upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Venation color             under side: RHS Yellow-Green 144A.         -   Petiole.—Appearance: Long, tubular. Length: Average range 13             to 17 cm. Diameter: Average range 0.3 to 0.5 cm. Pubescence:             Slightly tomentose. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 144A. -   Leaf inserted at the nodes of the floral stems:     -   -   Arrangement.—Biternate.         -   Average length.—15 to 20 cm.         -   Average width.—16 to 20 cm.         -   Overall shape of blade.—Palmatipartite.         -   Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity of             dissection.—Generally simple or divided in 2 or 3 lobes,             each one of which is further divided in some lobes.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Attachment.—Floral stems.         -   Margin.—Dentate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Slightly tomentose.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Slightly tomentose.         -   Appearance of top surface.—Matte.         -   Appearance bottom surface.—Matte.         -   Leaf internode length.—Average 3 to 5 cm.         -   Color.—Foliage upper side: RHS Green 137C. Foliage under             side: RHS Green 138B.         -   Venation.—Type: Dichotomous, plunging into the limb at the             upper surface and raised on the limb at the lower surface.             Venation color upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Venation             color under side: RHS Yellow-Green 144A.         -   Petiole.—Appearance: Slightly flat. Length: Average range 2             to 5 cm. Diameter: Average range 0.1 to 0.3 cm. Pubescence:             Slightly tomentose. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 144A. -   Flower:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—8 to 10.         -   Bloom period.—Winter to Spring.         -   Vase life (cut flower).—20 to 25 days.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-Cleaning. -   Bud:     -   -   Closed bud.—Shape: Flattened globular. Length: Average range             1.0 to 1.5 cm. Diameter: Average range 1.5 to 2.0 cm. Color:             RHS Green 137B, Purple N79A at the margin.         -   Slightly open bud.—Shape: Flattened globular. Length:             Average range 1.5 to 2.0 cm. Diameter: Average range 3.0 to             3.5 cm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 150D. -   Flower:     -   -   Diameter.—Average 8 to 10 cm.         -   Height.—Average 4 to 5 cm. -   Corolla: Round, regular, in the form of a flat section, with     slightly festooned edges. -   Petals:     -   -   Arrangement.—Imbricated, disposed on the receptacle in very             tight verticils. The size of the petals is quite variable,             according to the position in the corolla, decreasing from             the exterior toward the center.         -   Lobe length.—Average range 1.5 to 4.5 cm.         -   Lobe width.—Average range 2.0 to 3.0 cm.         -   Quantity.—Double flower, petals are very numerous (>100).         -   Texture.—Resistant.         -   Lobe apex.—Truncate.         -   Lobe shape.—Fan-shaped.         -   Margin.—Entire, finely crenate.         -   Aspect.—Fan-shape, festooned, rhomboid.         -   Color when opening.—Upper surface: RHS Yellow-Green 145C.             Lower surface: RHS Yellow-Green 145C at the base, Purple             N79A at center/apex.         -   Color fully opened.—Upper surface: RHS Yellow-Green 145C at             the base, Yellow-Green 144A in the center. Lower surface:             RHS Yellow-Green 145C at the base, Yellow-Green 144A in the             center, Red-Purple 73C from center to margin, matte. -   Calyx/sepals:     -   -   Quantity per flower.—6 to 9.         -   Shape.—Concave.         -   Length.—Average 3 to 4 cm.         -   Width.—Average 1 to 2 cm.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Flat.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Lower surface: Tomentose. Upper surface: Glabrous.         -   Color.—Upper Surface: RHS Yellow-Green 146D. Lower Surface:             RHS Green 137B, Red-Purple N79A at the margin. -   Peduncle: None. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—Average range 55 to 65 cm.         -   Diameter.—Average range 0.8 to 1.1 cm.         -   Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 144A.         -   Orientation.—Upright.         -   Pubescence.—Slightly tomentose. -   Fragrance: None. -   Reproductive organs: -   Androecium:     -   -   Stamens.—Present, with a short white filament.         -   Anther shape.—Longer than wide.         -   Anther length.—Average 0.1 to 0.3 cm.         -   Anther color.—RHS Yellow 7A, Red-Purple N79D at the center. -   Gynoecium: The pistils are numerous, short, locked together at the     center of the corolla, dome-shaped apocarpous gynoecium.     -   -   Pistil color.—RHS Red-Purple N79D.         -   Nectar glands.—Absent. -   Other characteristics: -   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to normal     diseases and pests of Ranunculus observed. -   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: No differences have been noted     in comparison to the common tolerance characteristics to other     Ranunculus cultivars. -   Fruit/seed production: Not observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ranunculus plant named ‘ABSALECAMI’ as herein illustrated and described. 